PISTOL OWNER’S MANUAL

BDA 380

T H A N K Y O U F O R C H O O S I N G AB R O W N I N G B D A 3 8 0 P I S T O LThe Browning BDA 380 is another in a long line of dependable,high-quality Browning centerfire pistols you will be proud to own. The BDA 380 autoloading pistol uses a dependable,blowback action design with a removable magazine. John M.Browning invented his first autoloading pistol in 1894.BDA 380 pistols incorporate features that reflect the significantimprovements and original ideas he contributed during morethan 25 years of designing pistols. Since then, we have produced a variety of models designed for sportsmen, competitive targetshooters, law enforcement and personal defense. In every sense,the BDA 380 pistol is a true Browning, giving you the kind ofshooting enjoyment and dependability you’ve come to expectfrom the world’s most respected gun company.

With a reasonable amount of care, your BDA 380 pistol shouldgive you many years of dependable, enjoyable service. Pleasefeel free to contact us immediately if you have any observationsregarding its performance and operation.

2

Y O U A R E R E S P O N S I B L E F O R F I R E A R M S S A F E T YAs a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. Howseriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference betweenlife and death.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CARELESS OR ABUSIVE HANDLING OF ANYFIREARM. AT ALL TIMES HANDLE YOUR BDA 380 AND ANY OTHERFIREARM WITH INTENSE RESPECT FOR ITS POWER AND POTENTIALDANGER. PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CAUTIONS AND PROPERHANDLING PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS OWNER’S MANUAL BEFOREUSING YOUR NEW FIREARM.

1 ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR BDA 380 POINTED IN A SAFEDIRECTION. Never point any firearm at anything you do not intend toshoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and propertywithin the range of your ammunition.

2 NEVER RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR FIREARM’S MECHANICAL “SAFETY”DEVICE. The word “safety” describes a gun’s blocking or disengagingmechanism for the trigger, sear, hammer and/or firing pin. Althoughmechanical devices place your BDA 380 pistol in a SAFER status, noguarantee can be made that the gun will not fire even if the “safety” isin the “on safe” position.

LIKE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE, A “SAFETY” CAN SOMETIMES FAIL; ITCAN BE JARRED OR INADVERTENTLY MANIPULATED INTO AN UNSAFECONDITION. Mechanical “safeties” merely aid safe gun handling andare no excuse for pointing your gun’s muzzle in an unsafe direction.While it is a good idea to test your gun’s mechanical “safeties”periodically for proper function, NEVER TEST IT WHILE YOUR GUN ISLOADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.

Safe gun handling does not stop with your gun’s mechanical “safety”devices — it starts there. Always treat this pistol with the respect duea loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.

3 DO NOT CARRY YOUR BDA 380 WITH A ROUND IN THE CHAMBER.For good safety practice, it is recommended that a round not bechambered until immediately before your pistol is to be fired.

4 THE RECOMMENDED CARRYING POSITION OF THE BDA 380 IS WITHTHE HAMMER IN THE DECOCKED POSITION. Carefully follow theprocedures for lowering the hammer from the cocked to thedecocked position explained on page 10 in this owner’s manual.

5 WHENEVER YOU HANDLE YOUR BDA 380, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE,MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. To fully unload your BDA 380, you must first remove the magazine, open and lock theslide rearward, and visually inspect the chamber to be certain it doesnot contain a cartridge. It is vital that you remove the magazine fromyour pistol so a cartridge is not automatically chambered when youclose the action. Always keep the chamber empty and the “safety” inthe “on safe” position unless shooting is imminent. See page 18 forunloading procedures.

6 DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR BDA 380 LOADED. Keep it unloaded,whether stored in a holster, gun case or other container.

7 HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS DANGEROUS, and may increase the risk of handling a firearm.The following rules should always be observed by you and thoseyou hunt with: Always make certain that the stand being used issafe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm is unloadedwhen it is being taken up and down from the stand. Always makecertain that your firearm is not dropped from the stand, ordropped while it is being taken up or down from the stand.Remember, a loaded firearm may discharge when dropped,even with the “safety” in the “on safe” position.

8 BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS. When preparing to shoot yourpistol, check for a barrel obstruction as follows: First, fully unloadthe pistol by removing the magazine, locking the action open andinspecting the chamber.

BE CERTAIN NO LIVE ROUND IS IN THE CHAMBER. Glance down thebarrel to be sure it is clear of any obstruction. It takes only onesmall obstruction to dangerously increase pressures. Before the firstfiring, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and patch, and wipe awayany anti-rust compounds in the chamber and around the action.

3

BE ALERT TO THE SIGNS OF AMMUNITION MALFUNCTION. If you detectan off sound or light recoil when a cartridge is fired, do not loadanother cartridge into the chamber. Fully unload by removing themagazine and removing the cartridge from the chamber. With theaction open, glance down the barrel to make sure that an obstructiondoes not remain in the barrel. If there is an obstruction, completelyclear the barrel before loading and firing again. Failure to follow theseinstructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and possibleserious injury to yourself and others.

9 BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING. Because so many gun accidents occur when a firearm is being cleaned,special and extreme care should be taken to be sure your gun isunloaded before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Keepammunition away from the cleaning location. Never test themechanical function of any firearm with live ammunition.

10 ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR PISTOL WHEN NOT IN USE. Yourresponsibilities do not end when your firearm is unattended. Storeyour pistol and ammunition separately and well beyond the reach ofchildren. Take all safeguards to ensure your pistol does not becomeavailable to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands.

11 USE THE PROPER AMMUNITION. The barrel and action of this pistolhave been made with substantial safety margins over the pressuresdeveloped by established American commercial loads. HOWEVER, WEASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCUR THROUGH THEUSE OF CARTRIDGES OF NON-STANDARD DIMENSIONS OR THAT DEVELOPPRESSURES IN EXCESS OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AMMUNITION THATHAS BEEN LOADED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BYTHE SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE(SAAMI).EXAMINE EVERY CARTRIDGE YOU PUT IN YOUR BDA 380 PISTOL.The BDA 380 pistol is designed and chambered for .380 ACPcartridges only. We cannot assume any responsibility for the use ofunsafe or improper arms and ammunition combinations. It is yourresponsibility to read and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual andon ammunition boxes.

4

12 DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANINGFIREARMS OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS,REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVEADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES; WASH HANDS THOROUGHLYAFTER EXPOSURE.

13 DO NOT SNAP THE FIRING PIN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER — THECHAMBER MAY NOT BE EMPTY! Treat every gun with the respect due a loaded gun, even if you are certain the gun is unloaded.

14 KEEP YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER WHILE UNLOADING ANDLOADING — UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT.

15 BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND BACKSTOP. Take additional care during low light periods. Know the range of your ammunition.Never shoot at water or hard objects.

16 DROPPING YOUR BDA 380 WHEN LOADED CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENTALDISCHARGE EVEN WITH THE “SAFETY” ON. Be extremely careful whilehunting or during any shooting activity, to avoid dropping aloaded firearm.

17 ALWAYS COMPLETELY UNLOAD YOUR PISTOL’S CHAMBER BEFORECROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTACLES. Never place your BDA 380 on a car, or on any unstable object.

18 IF YOUR BDA 380 FAILS TO FIRE, KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. Hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds. Carefully open the action and remove the cartridge.If the primer is indented, the cartridge should be disposed of in away that cannot cause harm. If the primer is not indented, yourfirearm should be examined by a qualified gunsmith and the causeof the malfunction should be corrected before further use.

19 WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING. Unprotected,repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage. Wear hearing protectors (shooting ear plugs or muffs) to guard against

5

such damage. Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. Always keep a safe distance between the muzzle of your firearm and any persons nearby, as muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells could inflict serious injury. Also, wear eye protection when disassembling and cleaning your pistol to preventthe possibility of springs, spring-tensioned parts, solvents or otheragents from contacting your eyes.

20 BE DEFENSIVE AND ON GUARD AGAINST UNSAFE GUN HANDLINGAROUND YOU AND OTHERS. Don’t be timid when it comes to gunsafety. If you observe other shooters violating any of these safetyprecautions, politely suggest safer handling practices.

21 SUPERVISE AND TEACH FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY. This is especially important when children and non-shooters are involved. Closely supervise newcomers to the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment in hunting/shootingsafety courses.

22 NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGSBEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING. Your vision and judgment could bedangerously impaired, making your gun handling unsafe to you orto others.

23 PERIODIC MAINTENANCE — AVOID UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.Your BDA 380 is a mechanical device which will not last forever,and as such, is subject to wear and requires periodic inspection,adjustment and service. Like all Browning firearms, your BDA 380should be serviced by a Browning Recommended Service Center orby our service facility in Arnold, Missouri.

WE CANNOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES SUFFERED OR CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING, ALTERATIONS ORMODIFICATIONS OF OUR FIREARMS.

6

Read and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual, on ammunitionboxes and with all accessories that you install on your firearm. It isyour responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information onthe safe handling procedures for your Browning gun. We assume noliability for incidents which occur when unsafe or improper gunaccessories or ammunition combinations are used.

Do not, under any circumstance, alter the trigger, “safety” or parts of the firing mechanism of this or any other firearm. Failure to obeythis warning may result in injury or death to yourself or others.

BE CAREFUL!

7

8

N O M E N C L A T U R EIn conventional gun terminology, the position and movement ofpistol parts are described as they occur with the pistol horizontal andin normal firing position, i.e. the muzzle is forward or front; the pistolgrip is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or underneath; thesights are upward or on top. For general nomenclature refer to Figure 1.

S E R I A L N U M B E RThe serial number of your BDA 380 Pistol can be found stamped onthe left side of the frame, in front of the trigger guard (Figure 1).

I N I T I A L C L E A N I N GBefore the first firing, clean the inside of the barrel, slide, and frame.Use a clean rag and light gun oil such as Browning Oil. For general

FIGURE 1

Rear Sight

Decocking “Safety”Lever

Front Sight

Hammer

Magazine

Extractor Slide

Frame

Muzzle

Grip

Trigger

Slide Release/Stop Latch

Magazine Release

Serial Number

Takedown Lever

Takedown Lever Stop

BDA 380

Rear Front

cleaning procedures, see instructions under the section “Cleaning andLubrication” on page 25.

A M M U N I T I O NYour pistol must be used only with .380 ACP ammunition as shown bythe inscription on the exposed portion of the barrel (visible throughthe ejection port when the slide is fully forward). The barrel and actionof this pistol have been made with substantial safety margins over thepressures developed by established U.S. commercial loads. Nevertheless,Browning can assume no responsibility for incidents which occurthrough the use of cartridges of nonstandard dimensions or thosedeveloping pressure in excess of SAAMI (Sporting Arms andAmmunition Manufacturers’ Institute) established standards.

M A G A Z I N E C A P A C I T YBrowning BDA 380 pistols have a magazine capacity of 13 rounds plus one in the chamber, for a total capacity of 14 rounds. However,some states limit the magazine capacity to 10 rounds plus one in thechamber, for a total capacity of 11 rounds. All BDA 380 pistols sold inthese states will be shipped with reduced total magazine capacity in compliance with state law. IMPORTANT: Current 13 round magazineswill have a “13” stamped under the lowest index hole on the back ofthe magazine. 10 round magazines can be identified by the number“10” stamped below the lowest hole. Make sure you have verified thecapacity of your magazine before loading it in your pistol.

G E N E R A L O P E R A T I O NYour Browning BDA 380 is a blowback operated semiautomatic pistol.The slide is forced rearward by the cartridge pressure and continues rearward travel to accomplish extraction, ejection, and cocking. Therecoil spring then causes forward travel, feeding a loaded round fromthe magazine and returning the slide and barrel to the firing position.The slide of this pistol is designed to stay open after the last cartridgehas been fired and ejected.

9

O P E R A T I N G T H E “ S A F E T Y ” D E C O C K I N G L E V E RThe ambidextrous, thumb-operated “safety”/decocking lever is locatedon both sides at the rear of the slide. It has twin finger pieces located oneach side of the slide so that it can be conveniently operated by a left-or right-handed shooter. Both finger pieces are serrated for positivemanipulation.

CAUTION: BECAUSE THE “SAFETY” IS ALSO THE DECOCKING LEVER, SPECIALATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE POSITION OF THE LEVER WHEN CLOSINGTHE SLIDE — FAILURE TO PLACE THE SAFETY IN THE “OFF SAFE” POSITIONPRIOR TO CLOSING THE SLIDE MAY RESULT IN A DAMAGED DECOCKINGSYSTEM. WHEN DECOCKING THE HAMMER, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR PISTOLIS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

MANUAL “SAFETY” FUNCTION

“On Safe”— To place the pistol in the “on safe” position, press the “safety”/decocking lever fully downward with your thumb (Figure 2A).When the “safety”/decocking lever is pressed fully downward, the ham-mer will move to the decocked position (if it was in full cock positionwhen safety was pressed down).

“Off Safe”— To place the “safety” in the “off safe” or ready-to-fire position,press the “safety”/decocking lever forward and up, exposing the red warningdot. The red warning dot appears on both sides of the slide (Figure 2B).With a round in the chamber and the magazine inserted, the pistol isready for firing with a pull on the trigger. NOTE: This pistol cannot be “onsafe” with the hammer in the full cock position. Because the “safety” isalso the decocking lever, depressing the “safety”/decocking lever will causethe hammer to move to the decocked position (if the hammer was cockedbefore you placed the pistol “on safe”). This does require firm pressure onthe “safety”/decocking lever. Do not press the “safety”/decocking leverpartially downward, leaving the hammer in the full cock position, andassume the pistol is “on safe.” It is not. If the hammer does not move fromthe full cock position to the decocked position, the “safety”/decocking leveris not in the “on safe” position. The hammer cannot be cocked with the“safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position.

10

DECOCKING LEVER FUNCTION

The “safety”/decocking lever also functions as a decocking lever to providea safer method of lowering the hammer from full cock to the decockedposition without having to depress the trigger. With the muzzle pointed ina safe direction and your finger away from the trigger, simply depress the“safety”/decocking lever fully down with your thumb (Figure 3). Thehammer will lower to the decocked position.

CAUTION: THE HAMMER SHOULD ONLY BE LOWERED TO THE DECOCKEDPOSITION USING THE COMBINATION “SAFETY”/DECOCKING LEVER. WHENDECOCKING THE HAMMER, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR PISTOL IS POINTEDIN A SAFE DIRECTION.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE THEHAMMER TO THE DECOCKED POSITIONBY PULLING THE TRIGGER ANDLOWERING THE HAMMER WITHYOUR THUMB AS WITH SOMEOTHER STYLES OF FIREARMS.

NOTE: Be sure to fully depress the“safety”/decocking lever to lowerhammer from the full cock to thedecocked position. Keep your finger away from the trigger. Besure the hammer moves to the decocked position. 11

FIGURE 2A FIGURE 2B

“On Safe” position.

Depress the “safety”/decocking lever.

“Off Safe” or ready-to-fire position.

FIGURE 3

O P E R A T I O N O F T H E H A M M E RThe Browning BDA 380 has an exposed hammer with dropped,decocked, and full cock positions.

DROPPED POSITION.

This is the momentary position of the hammer after the trigger ispulled (Figure 4) when dry firing or if a round failed to fire in thechamber. In the dropped position, the hammer is fully fallen and restingagainst the inertia firing pin, but the firing pin is not in contact withthe cartridge primer. (The firing pin must be struck forcefully by thehammer in order to achieve enough momentum to contact andindent the primer, causing cartridge ignitions.)

DECOCKED POSITION.

The decocked hammer position is between the dropped and full cockposition (Figure 4). This is the position the hammer should be locatedin at all times when carrying or storing your pistol. The decockedposition is provided as the primary, safest location of the hammer atany time the slide is closed.

FULL COCK POSITION.

When at full cock, the hammer is all the way to the rear (Figure 4). Inthe full cock position, with the “safety”/decocking lever in the “off safe”position, and with a cartridge in the chamber, the pistol is ready to fireby pulling the trigger.

12

FIGURE 4

Dropped Position

DecockedPosition

Full CockPosition

FIGURE 5

Slide Release/Stop Latch

Depress the slide release/stop latch.

S L I D E R E L E A S E / S T O P L A T C HWith an empty magazine inserted, the slide can be “locked” open simply by grasping the slide serrations immediately forward of the“safety”/decocking lever and drawing the slide fully rearward until theslide release/stop latch automatically rotates upward into its appropriaterecess. (If a magazine is not inserted, the slide release/stop latch mustbe manually pushed upward into its recess in the slide.) After the lastshot has been fired from the magazine the slide will “lock” rearward.This position is an additional safety measure and allows easy inspectionof the barrel chamber. This is also the recommended attitude of thepistol at all times prior to loading and while storing the pistol. Toclose the slide, be certain the “safety”/decocking lever is in the “off safe”position and your fingers are away from the ejection port and trigger.With the muzzle of the pistol pointed in a safe direction, simplydepress the slide release/stop latch located on the left side of the frame(Figure 5). NOTE: Failure to put the “safety”/decocking lever in the “off safe” position while closing the slide may cause damage to thedecocking system. After closing the slide, be certain the“safety”/decocking lever is moved to the “on safe” position, which willalso decock the hammer.

I N S E R T I N G C A R T R I D G E S I N T O T H E M A G A Z I N E1 With the slide closed, the “safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe”

position, and the muzzle pointing in a safe direction, press themagazine latch on the left side of the frame at the rear of the triggerguard and remove the magazine. As a safety precaution, operatethe slide manually and visually inspect the chamber to eliminateany possibility of a cartridge being in the chamber. Close the slide,remembering the “safety”/decocking lever must be in the “off safe”position to prevent damage to the decocking system.

2 It is possible to lock the slide open before inserting a loaded magazine. However, we recommend that the slide be closed beforeinserting a loaded magazine. If the slide is locked open when amagazine is inserted, and the slide is then closed using the slidelock, a cartridge will be fed into the chamber as the slide closes.The pistol could then be fired with the pull of the trigger.

13

14

3 Insert the cartridges into the magazine by pushing them down and sliding themrearward with your thumb(Figure 6). Start the cartridgeinto the magazine (bullet forward) by pushing downwardon the front of the followerwith the base of the cartridgeand then pushing the cartridgerearward under the lips untilthe cartridge is fully rearward.

4 Subsequent cartridges are loaded similarly, with the base of the newcartridge being pushed down on the already inserted round untilthe new cartridge can be slipped under the lips of the magazine.

REMEMBER: The recommended maximum carrying capacity of theBDA 380 is 13 rounds with the chamber empty (10 rounds in limitedcapacity magazines with the chamber empty). The number of cartridgesin the magazine can be visually verified following the instructionsunder “Other Features” on page 22 in this owner’s manual.

L O A D I N G T H E M A G A Z I N E I N T O T H E P I S T O LDo not load a cartridge into the chamber until shooting is imminent.Insert the loaded magazine into the magazine well at the base of thegrip, being certain that the magazine is pressed in completely untilretained by the magazine latch. The “safety”/decocking lever shouldremain in the “on safe” position.

T O L O A D T H E C H A M B E RTo load the chamber, point the muzzle in a safe direction, keep yourfinger away from the trigger and place the “safety”/decocking lever in the“off safe” position and pull the slide completely back. Allow the slide tomove forward under spring pressure, feeding the first cartridge from themagazine into the chamber. CAUTION: The pistol is now cocked and

FIGURE 6

Loading the magazine.

15

can be fired by simply squeezing the trigger. Be sure the“safety”/decocking lever is placed in the “on safe” position immediatelyafter feeding the first round (which will decock the hammer) unlessshooting is imminent.

S P E C I A L I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R L A WE N F O R C E M E N T A N D C O M P E T I T I V E S H O O T E R SSeveral BDA 380 functions are for specialized purposes in law enforcement and competitive shooting only. They are the loadedchamber indicator and the procedure for loading a full magazine withthe slide locked rearward (below).

L O A D E D C H A M B E R I N D I C A T O RCAUTION: Remember, under all conditions, always assume that thechamber of your BDA 380 is loaded. But, to be of assistance, especiallyin the case of a law enforcement officers, the BDA 380 has a specialloaded chamber indicator. The loaded chamber indicator is to be usedonly to confirm or verify that a round is in the chamber. In any situation,to use the loaded chamber indicator, (1) shooting should be imminent,(2) you have already loaded the chamber, and (3) you are in a situationwhere it is an advantage to confirm that the chamber is loaded. Neveruse the loaded chamber indicator to determine whether the chamberis loaded or not. When there is a round in the chamber, the forwardportion of the extractor will cam outward slightly, exposing a redindex mark. This index mark islocated on the top, forward sur-face of the extractor. Theextractor is a slender bar, about11⁄4" long, located on the rightside of the slide immediatelybehind the ejection port (Figure7). With practice, the protrusioncan be both seen and felt.Remember, the loaded chamberindicator is only for confirmingthat a round is in the chamberwhen shooting is imminent.

FIGURE 7

Protruding Extractor

The protruding extractor (with red index mark)confirms that a round is present in the chamber.

16

CAUTION: WHENEVER USING THE LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR PISTOL’S CHAMBER IS LOADED, ALWAYS FIRST MAKE SURE THE BARREL IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND THAT THE “SAFETY”/DECOCKING LEVER IS IN THE “ON SAFE” POSITION. DONOT USE THESE INDICATORS WITH LIVE AMMUNITION UNLESS AT ANAPPROPRIATE SHOOTING LOCATION AND WHEN ALL SAFETY RULES AREADHERED TO.

CAUTION: DO NOT DEPEND ON THE RED COLOR ALONE TO INDICATE YOURGUN’S SAFETY STATUS, AS TIME, EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS, AND THEABRASIVE ACTION OF CLEANING AGENTS CAN ERASE IT.

CAUTION: THE LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR IS NEVER A REPLACEMENT FORCHECKING THE LOADED STATUS OF YOUR PISTOL BY OPENING THE ACTIONAND REMOVING ALL CARTRIDGES FROM THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE.

L O A D I N G W I T H T H E S L I D E L O C K E D R E A RWA R DIf you are shooting in competitive matches or for law enforcementpurposes, and shooting will be imminent after firing an entire magazine,it is possible to load a fresh magazine while the slide is still lockedrearward, and then chamber a round when the slide is closed. Theslide of your BDA 380 locks rearward after the last round from themagazine is fired. Under most conditions you should immediatelyremove the empty magazine, close the slide and place the“safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position, while a new magazineis inserted. Under special law enforcement and competitive shootingconditions, you can leave the slide open after the empty magazine is removed. With the slide locked rearward you can insert the full magazine and release the slide forward by pushing downward on theslide stop/release lever with your thumb. The slide will close underspring pressure and feed a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber. Remember, the pistol can now be fired by simply squeezingthe trigger. If for some reason shooting is no longer imminent, youmust immediately push the “safety”/decocking lever downward, placingthe “safety” in the on position and at the same time, decocking thehammer. From this point the pistol can then be fired by moving the“safety”/decocking lever upward to the fire (“off safe”) position and

17

squeezing the trigger. If shooting is not imminent, the loaded roundshould be removed from the chamber as explained under “Unloading”on page 18.

Be sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction and your finger is awayfrom the trigger while you are decocking the hammer, performing anyloading or unloading procedures or confirming the loaded status ofyour pistol. Remember: Always treat your pistol as if the chamber isloaded and it is ready to fire.

F I R I N GDOUBLE ACTION FIRINGWith the pistol decocked, the first shot can be fired double action byraising the “safety”/decocking lever to the “off safe” position and simplysqueezing the trigger. In order for the trigger to operate the hammer,the magazine must be inserted in the pistol.

SINGLE ACTION FIRINGIf you wish to fire the first round single action instead of double action,simply raise the “safety”/decocking lever to the “off safe” position andcock the hammer. Be sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction andyour finger is away from the trigger while you are cocking the hammerwith your thumb. The first shot is now ready to fire simply by pullingthe trigger, as long as the magazine is in the pistol. CAUTION: REMEMBER,WHEN YOUR PISTOL IS AT FULL COCK THE TRIGGER PULL IS SIGNIFICANTLYSHORTER AND LIGHTER THAN WHEN PULLING THE TRIGGER FROM THEDECOCKED POSITION. ALWAYS TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO KNOW THE STATUS OFYOUR PISTOL’S HAMMER.

FIRING SUCCESSIVE SHOTSAfter the first shot has been fired by double action or single actiondescribed above, the pistol will automatically eject the fired cartridge, cockthe hammer and feed a loaded round from the magazine into the chamber.Thus the shooter may fire the pistol until the magazine is empty simply bypulling the trigger for each shot. Immediately depress the “safety”/decockinglever (with your finger removed from the trigger) if you do not wish to

18

fire or if shooting is no longer immi-nent. After the last shot is fired, theslide lock on the left side causes theslide to remain back. At this point,we recommend that the magazinebe removed and then the slideclosed (by releasing the sliderelease/stop latch), before a loadedmagazine is inserted in the pistol aspreviously described in the“Loading” section.

CAUTION: YOU WILL HAVE OBSERVED, BY PULLING THE SLIDE BACK TOCOCK THE PISTOL, THAT THE SLIDE MOVES REARWARD ABOUT 3⁄4" PASTTHE REAR OF THE FRAME (FIGURE 8). IN SHOOTING, NEITHER HANDSHOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE IT COULD BE HIT BY THE SLIDE IN ITSREARWARD MOVEMENT, NOR SHOULD UNORTHODOX SIGHTING METHODSBE USED WHERE THE PISTOL IS HELD CLOSE TO THE EYE OR FACE.

U N L O A D I N G1 With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and the “safety”/decocking

lever in the “on safe” position, depress the magazine release on theleft side of the frame and remove the magazine. CAUTION: KEEPYOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER WHILE REMOVING THE MAGAZINE,AND THROUGHOUT THE UNLOADING PROCESS. GRIP THE SLIDE ANDDRAW IT SHARPLY REARWARD AND LOCK THE SLIDE TO THE REAR BYRAISING THE SLIDE STOP. THIS WILL CLEAR ANY ROUND THAT MAY BEIN THE CHAMBER AND EJECT THAT ROUND.

2 Visually inspect both the chamber and magazine channel to besure your pistol is unloaded.The safest way to store your pistol isto leave the slide back and the magazine removed.

3 Strip any loaded cartridges from the magazine by pushing forwardon the rear of the top cartridge and sliding each cartridge out, oneat a time, as each moves up in the magazine. Also, be sure to fully

FIGURE 8

The slide moves rearward about 3⁄4" past the end of the frame.

unload any spare magazines at the same time. The magazine andcartridges should be stored separately from the pistol.

D I S A S S E M B LYWEAR EYE PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES WHEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCEON YOUR PISTOL. It is important that you become adept at disassembling (field stripping) your BDA 380 pistol. Disassembly into major component groups is necessary for thoroughly cleaningyour pistol and assuring reliable operation.

FIRST, BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED by removingthe magazine and inspecting the chamber as explained previously. Besure to use eye protection whenever disassembling and reassemblingyour pistol due to the spring-tensioned parts.1 Be sure the “safety”/decocking lever is in the “on safe” position.2 Unload your BDA 380 by removing the magazine, as explained

under “Unloading” on page 18, and visually inspect the chamberto ensure no rounds remain.

3 Lock the slide rearward by pulling the slide back and engaging theslide stop/release latch into the disassembly recess on the slide (Figure 9A).

4 Depress the takedown lever stop (Figure 9B). This is the small,button-like part that extends out of the frame just forward of theslide stop/release lever. The takedown lever stop passes through the

19

FIGURE 9BFIGURE 9A

SlideRelease/StopLatch

Take Down Lever Stop

Press and hold the take downlever stop.

Move the slide rearward and push in slidestop to lock it rearward.

frame of the pistol from the left to the right side. The takedownlever (on the right side) will not rotate unless the takedown leverstop is pushed in (on the left side), releasing the lever to rotate.With the “button” depressed, rotate the takedown lever on theright side of the frame 90 degrees downward (Figure 9C).

5 Place the “safety”/decocking lever in the “off safe” position.6 While holding the frame with one hand, and the slide with the

other hand, pull the slide rearward slightly to release the sliderelease/stop latch, then guide the slide forward off the frame. Theslide will be under spring pressure for part of its travel. Carefullypush it the rest of the way off the frame.

7 Push the slide forward on the frame rails until the slide is completely removed from the frame.

8 While holding the slide, press the head of the recoil spring guideforward to release the head of the recoil spring guide from thebarrel. Remove the recoil spring and its guide.

9 To remove the barrel from the slide, lift up the barrel lug and slidethe barrel out rearward (Figure 10). Disassembly to this point issufficient for normal maintenance of your pistol (Figure 11).No further disassembly is recommended as the pistol is nowstripped adequately for normal maintenance and cleaning.

WARNING: IF FURTHER DISASSEMBLY SHOULD EVER BECOME NECESSARYIT SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY OUR SERVICE FACILITY IN ARNOLD,MISSOURI, OR AN AUTHORIZED BROWNING SERVICE CENTER. NO OTHER

20

FIGURE 9C FIGURE 10

Lift out the barrel.

Takedown Lever

Rotate takedown lever 90 degrees downward.

21

PERSON SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PERFORM FURTHER DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLYPROCEDURES. INCORRECT REASSEMBLY COULD RENDER THE BDA 380INOPERATIVE OR UNSAFE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTION CANRESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY ORDEATH TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS.You are now ready to clean your BDA 380 as explained under“Cleaning and Lubrication” on page 25.

R E A S S E M B LY1 Replace the barrel into the slide.2 Replace the recoil spring and barrel into the slide. The head of the

recoil spring guide is positioned rearward. Compress the recoilspring by pushing on the head of the guide until the head of theguide can be inserted in the shallow, concave recess of the barrellug (Figure 12).

3 Replace the slide on the frame and hold it fully rearward. Lock theslide rearward by moving the slide stop/release latch upward intothe notch in the slide.

4 Depress the takedown lever stop and rotate the takedown leverrearward and upward 90 degrees. Be sure the barrel is in its mostrearward position. NOTE: If the takedown lever has been removedfor any reason, be sure to replace it prior to closing the slide.Failure to do so will cause the recoil spring and guide to eject outthe front of the pistol.

FIGURE 11 FIGURE 12

Barrel Lug Barrel Lug Recess

Slide

BarrelBarrelLug

Recoil SpringRecoil Spring Guide

MagazineFrame

When assembling, be sure the head of therecoil spring guide is inserted in the concavebarrel lug recess.

Disassembly to this point is sufficient for normal maintenance of your pistol.

Head of Recoil Spring Guide

22

5 Release the slide by depressing the slide stop/release latch.6 Place the “safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position. This will

also decock the hammer.7 Replace the magazine, or leave it out if you are storing your pistol

or performing other maintenance.

M A G A Z I N E M A I N T E N A N C EThe BDA 380 magazine is unique to the BDA 380 and should not beused in any other pistol. Neither should any other magazine be used inyour BDA 380. Its specialized, advanced design makes it highly reliableand makes maintenance and cleaning extremely easy (refer to“Cleaning and Lubrication” on page 25 in this owner’s manual fordetails).Disassembly takes just a few seconds and should be a normal part ofyour pistol’s maintenance. Component parts are designed for ease ofdisassembly and reassembly (Figure 13). This gives you extra confidencewhen conducting maintenance in the field.

S P E C I A L N O M E N C L A T U R EThe top of the magazine is the portion where the follower is exposedwhen unloaded. The bottom is the end with the buttplate. The front is the rounded, curved side of the magazine body. The rear is the flatsurface with the cartridge status view holes.

O T H E R F E A T U R E SOn standard BDA 380 magazines, three view holes are provided in the rear of the magazine to allow you to assess the number of roundsloaded in the magazine. These are indexed with the numbers 4, 8, and13. If the base of a cartridge shows in the 13 hole, your magazine is fullyloaded. The top (number 4) hole simply offers an estimate of theremaining cartridges.

On BDA 380 limited capacity magazines, there are only two numbers toallow you to assess the number of rounds loaded in the magazine. These

23

are indexed with the numbers 5 and 10 (Figure 14). If the base of acartridge shows in the 10 hole, your magazine is fully loaded. The top(number 5) hole simply offers an estimate of the remaining cartridges.

The extended lip on the floor plate allows easy manipulation andremoval of the magazine under all conditions.

M A G A Z I N E D I S A S S E M B LYWEAR EYE PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES WHEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCEON YOUR PISTOL.

1 Release the buttplate from the magazine by pressing on the release“button” through the hole in the bottom of the buttplate. The button is simply a protrusion on the buttplate retainer that engagesin the buttplate under pressure from the magazine spring. You canuse a thin screw driver or other suitable object to disengage it.

2 With the “button” held depressed, slide the buttplate off of therails toward the front of the magazine. CAUTION: THE SPRING ISUNDER HEAVY TENSION AND WILL TEND TO SPRING OUT.

3 Carefully remove the magazine spring. The buttplate retainer will usually stay connected to the spring. Note its position. Be pre-pared to retain the spring, as it is compressed and may spring outunless controlled.

4 Allow the spring assembly to release its tension, then remove the

FIGURE 14

Disassembled Magazine. Indexed view holes are marked with the numbers5 and 10. (10 round magazine shown.)

FIGURE 13

Buttplate Follower

Magazine Spring

Magazine Body

24

spring from the magazinebody.

5 Remove the follower from the magazine body. Note its position.

6 Perform any cleaning andmaintenance as outlined in thesection “Cleaning andLubrication” on page 25.

M A G A Z I N ER E A S S E M B LY1 Position the follower on the spring with the notch in the top of the

follower upward. The follower will fit into the top coil of the springat about a 45 degree angle. The notched end of the follower will betoward the top.

2 Insert the spring assembly (with the follower attached) into themagazine body. Make sure that the notched (or upper) part of thefollower is facing toward the front of the magazine. Leave thespring hanging out, uncompressed at this time.

3 Make sure the buttplate retainer is attached to the magazine spring.Insert the end of the spring through the keeper on the buttplateretainer: round edge to the front, release “button” downward.

4 Push the spring and retainer the rest of the way into the magazinebody. Be very careful. The spring is under tension and will tend tospring out.

5 Hold the retainer down, inside the magazine with one hand whileyou slide the buttplate onto the rails — starting the buttplate atthe front of the magazine body and sliding it rearward — until thebuttplate retainer snaps into position. The shape of the buttplatecorresponds to the shape of the buttplate retainer and the overallshape of the bottom of the magazine body — rounded edges all tothe front, flat edges all to the rear.

6 The magazine is now ready for use.

FIGURE 15

Windage adjustments on fixed sight models.

S I G H T A D J U S T M E N TThe BDA 380 is equipped with a fixed front sight and a windageadjustable rear sight. Before adjusting the sights, BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS UNLOADED.The windage adjustment (horizontal correction) is preset at the factory.However, should it ever be required, the rear sight may be moved inits dovetail slot in the slide. This is accomplished by lightly tapping thebase of the rear sight in the same direction you want the bullet tomove; i.e., if you want the point of impact to move to the left, tap therear sight to the left; if you want to move the point of impact to theright, tap the rear sight to the right.

A small wooden dowel or comparable nonmetallic object should beused to bear against the sight base during tapping to avoid marringthe finish (Figure 15). Correct adjustment is a process of trial anderror using the method described above.

C L E A N I N G A N D L U B R I C A T I O NFIRST, BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. REMOVE THE MAGAZINE AND VERIFY THAT THE CHAMBER DOES NOT CONTAIN A CARTRIDGE. KEEP ALL AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE CLEANING SITE.NEVER TEST THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF YOUR PISTOL WITH LIVEAMMUNITION. WEAR EYE PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES WHEN CLEANINGAND PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON YOUR PISTOL.

Different cartridge loadings, weather and shooting conditions all contribute to the frequently required in cleaning your pistol. A goodrule to follow is to clean your pistol after every use. If extensive shoot-ing will be performed, it is wise to clean your pistol after each 500rounds. Excessively dirty rounds may require more frequent cleaning.Excessive grit and dirt can affect the function of even the finestfirearm. Cleaning cannot be overemphasized.1 Disassemble the pistol as previously described on page 19 in the

section titled “Disassembly.” Clean the bore using a pistol cleaningrod and patch made for .380 caliber pistols, working back and

25

forth until a patch comes through clean. Be careful not to impactor mar the crown of the muzzle as it can affect accuracy. Cleaningfrom the breech end can reduce this danger.

2 Depending on the amount of use, the barrel may need to becleaned with a good quality nitro solvent. Ordinarily, a light lubricating oil like Browning Oil will suffice for this purpose.

3 The slide assembly may be cleaned with solvent or oil and thenwiped dry with a clean cloth.

4 Use a small brush to remove dirt or other foreign matter from theother parts of the action.

5 Totally wipe all parts clean.6 Lightly lubricate all moving parts, sparingly, with oil. Pay special

attention to the slide rails and the bearing surfaces of all levers andmoving parts. A good rule to follow is to oil all major componentsand internal parts, then wipe away any excess. A light film onmoving parts is sufficient. IMPORTANT: Fine oils tend to evaporate. If your BDA 380 has been stored for any length of time,completely relubricate before shooting.

7 Periodically wash the magazine in a good gun cleaning solvent tokeep the magazine spring and follower functioning well.Disassemble before cleaning, as explained previously. Bullet lubricants, oil and dirt can make these magazine componentssluggish. Do not heavily oil the internal parts of the magazine,as the oil can serve to collect grit and foreign matter. A fine film is sufficient.

8 It is appropriate to wipe the external parts of the pistol with aslightly oiled cloth after handling and to put a drop of oil on thefriction points from time to time. Frequently inspect your pistoland magazine to determine a need for cleaning.

26

DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUN’S ACTION APART BEYOND THE EXTENTEXPLAINED IN THIS OWNER’S MANUAL.This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism, and you may mar it forlife by an attempt to disassemble the inner mechanism assemblies. Donot disassemble the trigger mechanism or any other parts more thandescribed. If further disassembly is required, take your gun to aBrowning Recommended Service Center or a competent gunsmith.

27

28

N O T E S

S E R V I C E O R R E P A I R If your firearm should require service or repairs, we suggest youfirst contact a local recommended Browning Firearms ServiceCenter. Contact your Browning sporting goods dealer or call ourService Department for the address of the Service Center nearestyou. Otherwise, you may send your firearm directly to our ownService Department. For technical questions about your firearm or service, contact:

Browning Service DepartmentOne Browning PlaceArnold, MO 63010-9406Phone: 1-800-322-4626

Canadian Customers call or write:

Browning Canada Sports Ltd./Ltee,5583 Chemin St-FrançoisSt-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1W6Phone: (514) 333-7261

When returning your firearm for servicing, you must do the following:

1 Be sure it is completely unloaded.2 Package it securely in a cardboard container.3 Enclose a letter with your firearm that clearly describes the

trouble experienced, the ammunition used and the repairsdesired. Also include your name and a phone number where you can be reached.

4 If convenient, send a copy of the letter to us separately.5 Never return ammunition with your firearm. It is against

postal and most commerce regulations.

If you have any questions about this owner’s manual or about any other Browning products, call or write our Consumer Information Department:

Browning Consumer InformationOne Browning PlaceMorgan, UT 84050Phone: (801) 876-2711

BROWNING.COMBROWNING US: Morgan, Utah 84050-9326

BROWNING CANADA: Browning Canada Sports Ltd/Ltee, St-Laurent, Quebec, H4S 1W6BROWNING INTL: Parc Industriel des Hauts-Sarts, B-4040 Herstal, Belgium

NEU05011.5/04426